Japanese Obi

This is a waistband or obi for a yukata (summer kimono). It was my mother's. She told me to keep it when I left Japan. I have worn it with a yukata on several occasions, particularly international festivals.

Japanese Yukata (Summer Kimono)

My grandmother was a seamstress in Japan. This is a yukata (summer kimono) that she made for my mother when she was young.

Japanese Kimono

This is a fancy silk kimono with detailed embroidery that my mother had for a long time. She gave it to me when I got married.

Japanese Man's Yukata and Obi

This is a man's yukata (summer kimono) with its obi (waistband). My parents bought it for my husband.

Japanese Kimono

My grandmother was a seamstress in Japan. This is a kimono that she sewed for my mother when she was young.

Japanese Kimono and Obi

This is a yukata (summer kimono) and matching obi. This is a "cheater" obi that clips on instead of having to be tied. It was my mother's and she gave it to my when I got married.

Japanese Dress

This material of this dress is silk and the painting on the cloth is reminiscent of Japanese style paintings of flower branches. The cocktail dress was bought in a Greenville, NC store in Spring of 2004.

Chinese Dress (Modern)

This is a made-to-measure Qi Pao style dress. The material is very thin, very soft cotton. The design is rather graphic and reminded me of Pucci-designs, albeit a monochromatic one.

Shawl from Kashmir

Chinese Blouse (Modern)

This is one of three pieces of silk material bought in the capital of silk production, Hangzhou, in April 2006. Contemporary Chinese people consider this type of silk the finest China has to offer at the moment. It is very fine and thinly woven and decorated with beads and sequins. It differs from the smooth, satin-style silks that dominated the silk material stores in the 1990s. It also is different from the raw silk associated with Thailand. These materials were a gift by a person who wished to express gratitude. It is common practice in China to give gifts in return for favors. Ideally, such gifts should not be given as cash, but rather be something the receiver might treasure. .